jmc's classics
The harpsichord is a key board instrument similar to a piano. It has strings that are plucked. In a piano there are hammers that pound similar to a drum. The harpsichord was popular in Baroque period. But gave way to the piano. Until the early 20th century the Harpsichord became obsolete.
Similar to an organ, it may have two or three key boards, It also has stops like an organ. There is no standard harpsichord. J. S. Bach, Domenico Scarlatti and other Baroque era composers wrote for this instrument. In the early 20th r it began to make a revival. It is used in sub genres such as Baroque Pop and Baroque rock. Even big band leader Artie Shaw used in in the 1940 in his song Summit Ridge Drive. I have a copy of it on CD and would recommend this CD of his songs. I would recommend this CD for anybody who like big band and swing music. Swing and big bands were popular from the 1930's until the early 1950's It was among others Polish pianist and harpsichordist Wanda s (1879-1959) who helped to bring about a revival of this instrument in the 20th century. She was the first to record J.S. Bach's Goldberg variations. This instrument in my opinion can sound sort of creepy. I like some of the harpsichord music. May of the harpsichords had paintings on them and may have appeared to be gaudy. This instrument can have a good sound if it is played right. a lot of Harpsichord music from the baroque era has been transcribed for piano. I would like to hear a harpsichord accompanied by electric guitar and or bag pipes.
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I have found Your Classical yourclassical.com on facebook. Whey aloso feature Composers Datebook. They have live programming and other features which should be checked out. They alos live stream some concerts.
It has been over two weeks. I have had problems with the server and resetting my password.
There are a lot of good classical music sites on face book. Christmas in July events are going on now. I do like Big Band and Swing. I would like to hear the second movements from Schubert's Fifth Symphony(D485), Richard Strauss' Violin Concerto (Opus#8), Alexander Scriabin's Piano concerto (Opus#20) and the first movement from Dvorak's String Serenade (Opus#22) played by a big band, brass band or Jazz ensemble. I hope that this rioting is over with soon. I agree with some of their points. There are a lot of paid agitators that are causing the riots.
In California Church singing is not allowed because of Covid 19. This is in my opinion, an interference in freedom of religion and freedom of worship I have read that Elgar had a posthumous work released called "The Smoking Cantata" Which was released on this date. He had a friend who admonished him not to smoke cigars. I don't smoke. Elgar is best remembered for his Enigma variations and Pomp and Circumstance March. The latter is usually played in graduations. Wagner is mostly remembered for Opera. I am not in to his operas. he wrote two early symphonies. He also wrote a Centennial March which premiered in 1876 on the Centennial of America. He was paid $5,000 for writing it. He did not attend the premier in Philadelphia. I like his short work Siegfried Idyl which I like. I have a copy of it with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and have a CD of it with Arturo Toscanini conducting the NBC symphony Orchestra. I am fond of this piece of music.
With July 4th. What is the fascination with the British Royal family. We fought the American Revolution and the War of 1812 to keep them out. All European Royals are related. This has been going on for centuries. Most of the reigning European royals are descended from Queen Victorian and Prince Albert (who were first cousins) and King Christian lx of Denmark. That said, with all of that inbreeding for generations it is bound to cause genetic problems. It may have caused Hemophilia in the Russian and Spanish Royal families. The Rhodes Scholarship was created by Cicil Rhodes who was a British white supremist. he also wanted for America to become part of the British Empire again. I don't think that Americans should be Rhodes Scholars. This is not England. We are allies now but different cultures. Much of American music is influenced by British music. In Appalachia, much of the folk music is influenced by Scottish and Scotch-Irish settlers. This is some of what country music is based on. I hope that the rioting stops soon! Today is the birthday of Leos Janacek (1854-1928) He was a Czech composer. Like Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884) he is overshadowed by Antonin Dvorak. He is remembered for several operas even though the Czechs are not known for their operas. He wrote several other works. Among them two String quartets #1 called the "Kreutzer Sonata" and # 2 "Intimate Letters". I have both on CD with the Medici Sting Quartet on the Nimbus label. It was inspired by Leo Tolstoy's book of the same name which was inspired by Beethoven's Violin sonata called Kreutzer which was dedicated to French violinist and composer Rudolph Kreutzer It dates from 1923 in four movements all called "Con Moto" The second one dates from 1928 by his relationship with a married women 38 years younger than him.
Like many other Czech composers Janacek drew on Czech folk music for inspiration. He did research on Czech folk music. He was married. I don't know if the intimate letters are available for the public. The CD I have also contains the only string quartet of Gabriel Faure (1845-1924) who was a Frenchmen. I don't see much in common with these two men. I also like the Faure quartet. It is in three movements: Allegro moderato, Andante and Allegro. Janecek wrote other orchestral music including a sinfonetta and a violin concerto which I am not familiar with. He is not as well known as Dvorak or Smetana but I do think that his music is well worth listening to. |
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